The MBA× Story

It all began with one simple question: What if we used our education not to make a buck, but to make a difference?

That question led us 50,000 miles across America, where we found that the future lies not just in New York and Silicon Valley, but in small towns and big cities far from the coasts and away from the hype. It lies in the hands of entrepreneurs everywhere.

We also found that the future of business school is hands-on and must prepare a new generation to drive real progress. And we found that the future of our society depends on those who dare to leave behind the well-worn path to seek a better world.

Much more than a road trip — it was a movement.

The MBA× Entrepreneurs

The MBA× movement is shaped by women and men in the nooks and crannies of America, who prove that purpose is the new bottom line.

“Tell me, and I'll forget. Show me, and I'll remember. Include me, and I'll understand.”

“Whether it’s recovering from unhealthy addictions, reuniting with loved ones or simply making the best of a hard day, our employees’ perseverance reminds me that we all have hope for a better tomorrow”

The MBA× Open Road

Since we launched MBA× in 2013 we’ve grown from just four friends with a “crazy” idea, into a national movement that has attracted hundreds of MBAs from over 30 business schools and hundreds of entrepreneur applicants from almost every state.

But the MBA× movement has never been about elite schools or a selective application process. It’s been defined by a belief that each of us has the power to roll up our sleeves and tackle the biggest challenges we face, without waiting for anyone’s permission.

So now we’re turning the movement over to you: we are putting ourselves out of business and sharing our model freely with anyone who wants to do this work — through MBA× Open Road, a toolkit that lays out everything that goes into making an MBA× journey happen.

If you’re ready for an adventure that will teach you more than you could ever learn in a classroom, we invite you to join young people all over the world who are continuing to build the MBA× movement on the open road.

The MBA× Fellows

Many MBAs might ask “why?” — why get on the vast, unknown road instead of the path that’s certain? These MBAx Fellows asked “why not?” — why not leave behind the comforts of cubicles and head into the heart of America to put my skills to the test for a cause greater than myself?

The Impact

The MBA× journey was about real people all across America, who were working to write a better story for themselves and their country. These are the stories that helped change our lives, and that give us hope for the road ahead.

The Social Club Grooming Co.

Who

Where

Detroit, Michigan

What They Do

An innovative salon that recycles the hair it collects to accelerate compost that is then used to plant trees in Detroit, which has lost half of its urban canopy in the past decade. They also use the barbershop as a natural convening point for the community by hosting Shop Talks™ where leaders share their stories and spark conversations, learning, and cooperation toward creating a better world.

How We Helped

Three “I’s”: an incentive structure that would allow Sebastian to attract, retain, and engage top talent; tech infrastructure to turn his clientele base into evangelists for the salon; and iconic actions to tell the story of The Social Club inside the physical space and in the community — from chalkboard walls to pop-up barber shops. We introduced Sebastian to partners who helped him tear . After the summer, Sebastian worked with partners we introduced him to and tore down an abandoned home, reclaiming the wood to renovate the entire Social Club. He also tripled his monthly revenue, was able to secure a $100,000 local investment, and invested us back for the summer of 2014.

What We Learned

Grassroots leaders like Sebastian are writing a different story about Detroit, one where young visionaries build solutions to the city’s problems themselves instead of waiting for traditional institutions to save the day.

Testimonial

“You all are like really good dentists…closing gaps and all. You left me with an awesome pair of braces.”